Press Release

New York, NY, November 10, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today applauded the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism (ICCA) for continuing to inspire parliamentary action against anti-Semitism around the world.

With the sponsorship of the Canadian government, ICCA convened the largest ever gathering of parliamentarians focused on strategizing against anti-Semitism. During a three-day conference in Ottawa, parliamentarians from 50 countries on six continents heard from experts about recent trends and shared strategies to combat anti-Semitism in all its forms.

"The ongoing focus on anti-Semitism by a growing community of parliamentarians is an important reaffirmation that countries will not stand idly by while anti-Semitic ideologies and anti-Jewish attacks continue to flourish," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "The first step toward eradicating anti-Semitism is recognizing it. We are encouraged that the participants recognize the global phenomenon of anti-Semitism and stand ready to address the problem with real action. Issuing declarations isn't enough."

The Ottawa Protocol states in part, "We are concerned that, since the London Conference in February 2009, there continues to be a dramatic increase in recorded anti-Semitic hate crimes and attacks targeting Jewish persons and property, and Jewish religious, educational and communal institutions."

In presenting to the conference, ADL called on the representatives to be vigilant against anti-Semitism and online hate.

Christopher Wolf, an attorney and expert on cyber hate who chairs ADL's Internet Task Force, gave a detailed overview of how online anti-Semitism has "created an online culture where hatred of Jews is made to seem common, normal and acceptable." He emphasized that terrorist acts against Jews and others "most certainly have been inspired and facilitated by the Internet."

The Ottawa Protocol incorporated ADL recommendations and committed to "Establishing an International Task Force of Internet specialists comprised of parliamentarians and experts to create common indicators to identify and monitor antisemitism and other manifestations of hate online and to develop policy recommendations for Governments and international frameworks to address these problems;"

Stacy Burdett, ADL's Director of Government and National Affairs, represented ADL at the conference, which was held in Canada's Parliament and featured the League's exhibit on Will Eisner's graphic novel, The Plot.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.